CROSS FORUM NRL Grand Final Discussion

[Xzei]

Does anyone know the rule if Sorenson dropped the kick off. Is it still deemed to be out on the full?

Yeah has to control the ball I think

 

[Bucking Beads]

It’s pathways as well. Our pathways are shocking. We have also had Redcliffe come in and that has taken one of our pathways we took for granted. Our club needs to invest heavily in this area, we’ve been left behind.

It’s such a cop out that our club didn’t prepare for Redcliffe coming in. Penrith are competing with how many teams in Sydney and are still getting it right.

I agree as a club we’ve been left behind. Tbh 2023 was a fluke on the back of Walsh luckily coming back to us. It doesn’t happen if he doesn’t arrive.

 

[JayPee]

The mrs was going off her head at me last night when I kept saying Howarth clearly got it down saying it was the arm not the ball. Watched it again without the beer goggles on and looks like I was wrong. Another apology. What is new. The bunker/nrl and TV networks really need to do something about getting all the vision to the viewer. People are blowing up about it on social media and these plonkers at the nrl have even clearer vision it was his arm.

As a neutral I was a bit disappointed in the game. Never reached any great heights imo. Melbourne looked ordinary all night and Penrith just grinded them into the dust. Ran harder and just generally fitter. Melbourne's forward pack especially their front row looked out matched. Welch is proper cooked. Really missed Nelson.

 

[JayPee]

Yeah has to control the ball I think

Na just have to touch it

 

[Big Del]

Penrith do everything better than everyone else. Even the replacements they buy in are targeted. So often I find myself thinking ahh must that’s who I wanted us to chase.

Yeah , Luai did alright for the 10th best #6 in the comp too I thought .

 

[Big Del]

Does anyone know the rule if Sorenson dropped the kick off. Is it still deemed to be out on the full?

Just gotta touch it .
Like Cleary did in last years GF .

 

[winslow_wong]

Yeah , Luai did alright for the 10th best #6 in the comp too I thought .

Luai’s go to last night was pass it back to Cleary whenever possible. Then if Cleary pulls off a big play, Luai looks like a genius.

 

[FACTHUNT]

The arrogance of that storm player behind Nelson wearing sunglasses at night to the GF when he isn't even in the playing squad.

/s

NAS is so ugly I wish that he was wearing a garbage bag

 

[Dexter]

Watching the footage rather than a still, you can clearly see the white of the Steeden disappear behind some blades of grass.

Absolute joke of a decision, and I dare anyone to call me an apologist for fucking Melbourne.

Nah I've had to change my mind on this. What looks like the bottom of the ball is Howarths white pasty Melb arm.
No doubt it was an illusion.

 

[johnny plath]

Yeah has to control the ball I think

No... just touch it... as soon a he does then the ball is out on the full

 

[Big Del]

Luai’s go to last night was pass it back to Cleary whenever possible. Then if Cleary pulls off a big play, Luai looks like a genius.

Luai took the ball from the left of the ruck on fifth tackle, but swung the ball back to the right once he had committed the Storm defensive line.
The ball now with Cleary and a fractured defence in front of him, the Penrith number seven threw the perfect flat-pass to a charging Liam Martin, who burst through a gap and slammed the ball over the stripe.
It was a play that should be shown to every junior rugby league player across the country.

 

[Xzei]

No... just touch it... as soon a he does then the ball is out on the full

Could have swore the abc coverage said catch

 

[Nerd]

Maybe the hiring of Madge will fix this but I still one of our major problems is recruitment and retention. The 3 players we bought this year were barely Q Cup standard.

 

[Dexter]

Just gotta touch it .
Like Cleary did in last years GF .

Thanks, it's a dumb rule IMO.
Technically the kicking team has done everything right the receiving team deliberately takes it out and gets a benefit.
Another rule that should be changed.

 

[BroncosFever]

Thanks, it's a dumb rule IMO.
Technically the kicking team has done everything right the receiving team deliberately takes it out and gets a benefit.
Another rule that should be changed.

At least make them catch it, I hate when they're basically doing the splits to have one foot out.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Maybe the hiring of Madge will fix this but I still one of our major problems is recruitment and retention. The 3 players we bought this year were barely Q Cup standard.

The money we’re giving players to stay here is too much. We’ve got no money to build a decent team.

 

[Battler]

It was a war of attrition and in the end, Penrith proved they're without a doubt the most dominant force the game has ever seen. Even against the former juggernauts in Bellamy's Melbourne, they were a clear level above despite a gallant effort from the Storm.

For the Panthers, it was largely the same story we've seen before. They're so effective at playing through their set and nobody has yet to figure out how to stop the roll on. The one change was Nathan Cleary who all things considered, was unlucky not to receive a third CC medal considering he made 28 runs, 30 tackles and 18 kicks to go with his 72 touches of the footy. We normally don't see Cleary touch the ball so often and while it didn't result in any line-breaks it just kept things rolling for the Panthers.

Melbourne too were obsessed with Cleary, so much so, they targeted that side relentlessly. It did pay dividends early when Grant went over after Martin couldn't make the second effort but it was a rare blemish. Not only did Cleary make 30 odd tackles, but Tago made 37 just to show how much Melbourne went after Cleary and were hell-bent to make that inside play to Coates work.

Penrith were better across the park, but I'd say the forwards proved the biggest difference. Particularly in the middle, Yeo had a field day with Melbourne whereas the Storm rarely made any inroads and were found wanting. The loss of Asofa-Solomona didn't help but I think it's just a limatation of the side. Loiero has come a long way, but he clearly pales in comparison to Yeo who appears to be modelling his game after.

That's where Utoikamanu could be a major asset. Difficult to imagine that the Storm will gain a player of Stefano's calibre without losing anyone of notoriety. I still see plenty of improvement in them and would not be shocked to see them in the mix.

Meanwhile Penrith say farewell to Luai, Fisher-Harris & Turuva. Ordinarily losing players of that calibre would spell the end of the dynasty but Penrith are so unbelievable that they'll likely saddle for their fifth straight premiership. In Edwards, To'o, Cleary, Leota, Martin, Yeo they have such a strong core and if the likes of Smith and co. keep developing it's difficult picturing the Canterburys, Cronullas etc. improving enough to challenge them.

I think it’s us, assuming this year was an anomaly and we can get back to 2023 form, or Melbourne as the only realistic challengers to riff next year. Maybe the eels are a smokie if Ryles can do a Ciraldo on them and Moses stays fit, but it’s a long shot.

Dogs have a crap pack, sharks don’t have that extra level, rorters and cows are losing too many players, wahs get jfh but they don’t have an inform SJ like they did in 23. The rest aren’t worth considering.

 

[Dexter]

We need a draft